A Guide to Application for Liquor Licences and Club Liquor Licences

According to the laws of Hong Kong, any person wishing to sell liquor on any premises for consumption on the premises must obtain a liquor license before starting such business.

A club liquor license is required if alcohol is intended to be served in any premises used by the club for club purposes.

The Liquor Licensing Board was established as an independent statutory body to consider applications for liquor licenses and club liquor licences. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department provides administrative and secretarial support for Liquor Licensing Board.

In case of objection from members of the public or the police, the applicant/licensee will be invited to answer questions before the Liquor Licensing Board. They may appear before the Liquor Licensing Board either in person or with their legal representatives.

In general, the Liquor Licensing Board will consider applications for liquor licenses if the premises in question are licensed general/light refreshment/marine restaurants (full or provisional) or may be licensed or provisionally by the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene. A liquor license will be issued when the premises have been issued with a restaurant license or provisional restaurant licence. For club liquor licences, the premises must issue a Certificate of Compliance under the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance (Cap. 376) or a prohibition order issued by the Secretary for Home Affairs and Youth Affairs before issuing liquor Card. .The Liquor Licensing Board will also consider applications for liquor licenses from premises other than those mentioned above.

For premises that have not applied for or are not covered by a valid restaurant license or Certificate of Compliance, the Liquor Licensing Bureau will consult not only the Hong Kong Police Force and the Home Affairs Department, but also the Planning Department, the Buildings Department

/Independent Checking Unit

and other relevant departments of the Housing Department Office of the Permanent Secretary/Architectural Services Department,

Fire Services Department and Departments under the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

on the location, structure, fire safety and hygiene conditions of the application premises. The processing time for this type of liquor license application will be longer.

/ Independent Checking Unit under the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Housing / Architectural Services Department,

premises have been issued with a restaurant licence or a provisional restaurant licence. For club liquor licence applications, a liquor licence will only be issued if the premises concerned are issued with a Certificate of Compliance or an Exclusion Order by the Secretary of Home and Youth Affairs under the Clubs (Safety of Premises) Ordinance (Cap. 376). Liquor Licensing Board will also consider applications for liquor licence in respect of premises other than the afore-mentioned.

All applications should be made on the standard form, which can be obtained free of charge from the Liquor Licensing Office at the address listed in Annex 1, or can be downloaded from the websites of the Liquor Licensing Board and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.

The Liquor Licensing Board also accepts electronic applications for liquor licenses and club liquor licences. The "Online Licence Services" website (https://www.licensing.gov.hk) provides electronic licensing services to facilitate applicants to submit applications for liquor licenses or club liquor licences, and to check the application progress online.

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Note: Application for a licence to sell liquor for immediate consumption on the premises where it is sold should be made to the appropriate Liquor Licensing Board of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. Enquiries can be made to:

(A) Liquor Licensing Board of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (for the premises in the urban area)

Tel.: 2879 5779 or 2729 1126

(B) Liquor Licensing Board of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (for the premises in the New Territories)

Tel.: 2601 8232

https://www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/ll-cll-appguide.pdf